Genua spieker

Genova, 08. Mai 2014

Folie 1 von 43Dr. Jürgen Spieker

The importance of microbiology and macrobiology for

natural swimming ponds and pools


Foto: Thorsten Stegmann

Dr. Jürgen Spieker, KLS-Gewässerschutz, Neue Große Bergstraße 20, 22767 Hamburg, ++49 40 38 61 44 60, www.kls-gewaesserschutz.de

http://www.kls-gewaesserschutz.de/



Sediment Removalin Lakes

PublicNatural Swimming

Ponds

Private Natural Swimming

Pools

Analysis and Assessment of Freshwater Bodies

Lakes, Ponds, Reservoirs

River Elbe

http://www.kls-gewaesserschutz.deEmail: [email protected]

Tel.: ++49 40 38 61 44 60

Neue Große Bergstraße 20, D-22767 Hamburg

Lake Restoration and

Management

Rainwater and Road Runoff

Treatment

Assessments for Administrative

Planning Procedures

ú Konzepteú Lösungenú S anierungenim Gewässerschutz

Index for the Quality of Natural

swimming ponds



The story of biology in natural swimming ponds



Questions and Answers

1. What lives in a natural swimming pond?

2. Beneficial - harmful – or even dangerous creatures?

3. What is the function of animals, algae and bacteria in natural swimming ponds?

4. Where do the organisms occur?



Creatures in and around the Water

- 2 m

Mammals: - 1 m

Birds: - 0,5 m Amphibians: 0,05 – 0,1

m

Benthic macroinvertebrates 0,02 – 0,07 m

Zooplankton0,0005 – 0,001 m

Sorted according to size


Fishes: 0,01 – 1,0 m

Foto: Klaus-Thorsten Tegge



Creatures in and around the Water

Biofilms are accumulations of microorganisms which colonize hard surfaces in aqueous or humid environments1.Costeron, J.W. et al. (1994): Minireview: biofilms, the customized microniche. J. of Bacteriology 176, 2137-2142.

EAWAG News 60d/12 2005

photoautotrophicfreshwater biofilm

pink = blue-green algae

blue = green algae

green = biofilm matrixautotrophic (sunlit) biofilm with filamentous algae

Fotos: KLS-Gewässerschutz

And even smaller – Filamentous Algea, Phytoplankton and Biofilms



MammalsFoto: © Oleg Kozlov

Evaluation:

- In private natural pools „family dogs“ are not a problem- In public natural swimming ponds dogs are not allowed for hygenic reasons - Rats may transmit diseases (e.g. Leptospirosis via urine) and must be deterred from swimming pool areas

LeptospiraQuelle: leptospirosis.org



Waterbirds

Composition: ducks, geese

Evaluation:

- waterbirds are prohibited in public natural swimming ponds (hygenic risk, cercariae)

- waterbirds should also be deterred in private natural swimming pools as they can introduce germs und cercariae.



Waterbirds and Cercariae



Waterbirds and Cercariae

Abbildung: R. Allgöver

1st host

Cercaria

1st free-living motile larval form

Adult Trematodes

Trematode eggsMiracidium

2nd host

Sporocysts

2nd free-living motile larval form

bird faeces

Cercaria penetrates the skin and dies

(Swimmer's itch)

contact with Swimmer



Amphibians / ReptilesFoto: Thorsten Stegmann



Amphibians

Composition:- salamanders- frogs, toads

Functional role:- insect eaters- tadpoles are good consumers of algae

Evaluation :- all species of amphibians are protected!



Benthic macroinvertebrates (bottom-dwelling invertebrates)

Relevant taxonomic groups:Common name Scientific nameUnicellular organisms ProtozoaSponges PoriferaCnidarians (e.g. jellyfish, hydrozoa) CnidariaMoss animals BryozoaFlat worms PlathelminthesNematodes NematodaOligochaete worms OligochaetaLeeches HirudineaSnails GastropodaMussels BivalviaCrustaceans CrustaceaInsects & Insect larvae Insecta



Sponge (Spongilla lacustris)

Hydrozoan (Hydra spec.)

Benthic macroinvertebrates Sponges, Hydrozoa



Plattwurm (Polycelis tenuis)

Oligochaet (Stylaria lacustris)

Oligochaet (Tubifex spec.)

Egel (Glossiphonia complanata)

Quelle: Peter Pfeiffer

Benthic macroinvertebrates Worms, Leeches



Acroloxus lacustris

Bithynia spec

Galba spec.Ansius spec.Lymnaea

stagnalis

Foto: Peter Pfeiffer

Benthic macroinvertebrates Snails



Flache Teichmuschel (Anodonta anatina)

Zebramuschel(Dreissena polymorpha)

Benthic macroinvertebrates Mussels



Flohkrebs(Gammarus spec.)

Wasserassel(Asellus aquaticus)

Benthic macroinvertebrates Crustaceans

Amerikanischer Flusskrebs (Orconectes limosus)



Foto: ©entomart


Zuckmückenlarve(Chironomidae spec.)

Zuckmücke(Chironomidae

spec.)

Benthic macroinvertebrates Insects and Insect larvae



Foto: André Karwath (Aka)


mayfly larvae

dragonfly larvae




Water beetle

Foto: E. van Herk

Common backswimmer, Water boatman




aus: Schönborn, Lehrbuch der Limnologie

Benthic macroinvertebrates Frequency of occurrence (abundances)



Benthic macroinvertebrates Role of the benthic macroinvertebrates in the swimming pondThe following functional roles of the benthic macroinvertebrates can be deduced:- Sponges, hydrozoans and moss animals clean the water due to their filter feeding and suspension feeding modes.- Flat worms, leeches and some of the insects and insect larvae are ferocious predators that feed on other small animals.- Snails and some of the insect larvae (Chironomids) feed on benthic algae.- Mussels clean the water due to their filter feeding mode. However, zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) should not be introduced as this species reproduces quickly and may block the water pipes.

EvaluationBenthic macroinvertebrates are always present in a swimming pond. The organisms play an important role in the food web and contribute to the stability of the ecosystem.



Composition of the zooplankton:Zooplankton is a category which includes all floating or weakly swimming animals that are able to remain in the water column, but drift with the water currents as their locomotion is too weak to move independently of the water current. The most frequently occuring groups of zooplankton in the freshwater are:

Flagellates

Ciliates

Rotifers

Crustaceans

Insect larvae (e.g. mosquito larvae)

Zooplankton



Kleinkrebs (Daphnia spec.)

Ciliate(Genus Halteria)

Rotifer (Brachionus spec.)

ZooplanktonCiliates and Rotifers



Small crustation (Bosmina longirostris)

Small crustation (Daphnia spec.)

Small crustation (Copepoden)

ZooplanktonCrustaceans (Copepods, Cladocerans)



Small crustation(Bosmina longirostris)

Small crustation (Daphnia spec.)

from: Lampert und Sommer,

Limnoökologie

Egg development time of several zooplankton species

in relation to water temperature

Small crustation (Copepoden)

ZooplanktonCrustaceans (Copepods, Cladocerans)



Foto:KLS

Foto:KLSFoto:KLS

Foto:KLSFoto:KLS

Zooplankton

Foto:KLSFoto:KLS

Suspension feeders, e.g. Ciliates, Rotifers (feed by creating strong currents of water towards their mouth using rings of cilia; they prefer particle sizes of 0,5-3,0 µm).

Ciliates: 0,002 - 0,02 ml/individual*day

Rotifers: <0,05 ml/individual*dayFilter feeders, e.g. Cladocerans (a feeding-current is passed through a filter-like structure and food particles are retained by the filter, particle size 30-50 µm)

Daphnia hyalina longispina: 0,2 - 4,5 ml/ind.*d

Bosmina longispina: 0,5 – 3,0 ml/ind.*d

Particle catchers, e.g. Copepods, Flagellates (selective catching of particles like bacteria or algae)

Eudiaptomus graciloides: 0,3 - 2,8 ml/ind.*d



ZooplanktonFunctional role in the swimming pond:The majority of zooplankton feed on bacteria and phytoplankton and thus exert a strong feeding pressure on these organisms. Additionally there also exists predatory zooplankton that feed on other zooplankton.

Zooplankton contribute substantially to water purification and are included in regulatory guidlines (FLL 2011) as a component of biological water treatment .

In swimming ponds zooplankton filtration rates of more than 1 x / day have been observed (i.e. the zooplankton community filters the whole water body more than once a day).

Evaluation:Zooplankton always occur in a natural swimming pond. Filter feeding zooplankton remove phytoplankton and bacteria from the water.

Zooplankton (and Phytoplankton) are also present in natural swimming ponds in which the entire water volume is pumped through the water treatment areas several times a day.

The importance of zooplankton increases with decreasing intensity of the water treatment.



Phytoplankton composition:green algae (Chlorophyta),

diatoms (Bacillariophyceae),

golden-brown algae (Chrysophyceae),

biflagellate group of algae (Cryptophyceae),

blue-green algae (cyanobacteria): these are not algae but bacteria and are only functionally (photo-syntheses, primary production) counted among phytoplankton.

Filamentous algae composition:green algae

The most important genera are:Oedogonium, Cladophora, Mougeotia and Spirogyra

Phytoplankton and filamentous algae



green algae (Cladophora spec.)

Microscopic image of algae fixed with Lugol's solution

blue-green algae (Micorcystis viridis)

green algae (Pediastrum duplex)




Accumulation of filamentous algae in a swimming pond




Functional role in the swimming pond:The category phytoplankton includes mainly free-floating algae. Algae are regarded as a functional community of autotrophic organisms. Using the energy from the sunlight they build up biomass from inorganic carbon compounds (carbon dioxide, hydrogen carbonate) and nutrients (macro- und micronutrients) through the process of photosyntheses. During this process oxygen is released.

6 CO2 + 12 H2O (+ light + nutrients) » C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O

Phytoplankton live in the water column whereas filamentous algae grow on hard surfaces. There are, however, numerous transitions between these two algal communities.

Evaluation:Phytoplankton should be present in a swimming pond, but it should not develope high biomasses (reduction of water transparency). Blue-green algae should not be dominant.Filamentous algae are a natural component of a swimming pond, but like the phyto-plankton they should not occur in high biomasses.




Biofilms are composed of bacteria, algae, amoebae, ciliates, fungi

photo: Dr. Ralf Wagner

photo: Dr. Ralf Wagner


photo: KLS-Gewässerschutz photo: KLS-Gewässerschutz

Wimperntier(Ciliate of the genus Halteria)

Biofilm



Structure of biofilms


Biofilm

Biofilms are accumulations of microorganisms which colonize hard surfaces in aqueous or humid environments.

Biofilm plays an important role for the function of the filter systems.



The composition of biofilms can adjust to changes in water temperature.

These changes occur continuously and not abrupt.

Biofilms are important for the function of all filtersystems in swimming ponds and natural pools

Biofilm



Retention of phosphorus compounds through biofilm in filters. Data from the database „DANA“

The content of total phosphorus in the clean water after filter passage is largely independend from phosphorus input and temperature.

Biofilm



In natural lakes phosphorus is the limiting nutrient for biomass

production

Nutrients (Phophorus)



According to current knowledge phosphorus can be regarded as the limiting nutrient in swimming ponds and natural pools.

Liebig's law of the minimum(Liebig, 1840).

from: Wikipedia, Minimumgesetz

Nutrients (Phophorus)



Foto: E. van Herk



Where do the organisms occur?

Even in more technically designed swimming ponds a large number of resident fauna can be found.

Their quantity depends on the operating mode and the productivity (intensity of plant production) of the swimming pond system.




Foto: E. van Herk


Where do the organisms occur?Swimming ponds with a more natural design contain morphological structures which offer a suitable habitat to a large number of different groups and species of animals.

The aquatic fauna has an important influence on the water quality, but in turn depends strongly on the productivity of the system.

Mass developments of single species indicate a disturbance within the system.




ConclusionsüA large variety of animals, algae and bacteria occur in natural swimming ponds and poolsüBenthic macroinvertebrates and zooplankton contribute the highest number of animal species and individuals in a natural swimming pondü These animals are often too small and inconspicuous to be consciously noticedü The whole biological community fulfills important tasks in natural swimming ponds, e.g. filtration, consumption of benthic algaeüBiofilm plays an important role for the function of the filter systems.



Thanks for your attention!

Source of all fotos and figures, if not labelled otherwise: KLS, Hamburg

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